Living in Sooke, a fishing village on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Jim Brannigan is a traditionalist who believes a song must stand the test of time before it can truly be called Folk. Influenced by Makem & Clancy, The Dubliners, The Corries, and Eric Bogle, Brannigan believes in a "less is more" approach to music. This is evident on his CD The Singing Bird on which he combines tasteful arrangements of traditional songs with modern material from Gordon Bok. The songs range from "Carrickfergus" and "The Cobbler" to the lengthy song-story "Peter Kagan and the Wind." Brannigan is a tenor guitar-playing balladeer with a fine baritone voice and a soft Scottish accent. The album is throwback to an earlier era of folk music that will be appreciated by those who enjoy well-performed straight-ahead balladeering.

Additional musicians on the album include Noel Cronin, vocals; Ray Thomas, autoharp; Denis Wightman, harmonica; Alan Turnbull, Scottish small pipes; Terry Warbey, dulcimer, mandolin; Nell Stallard, vocals; Erynn Marshall, fiddle; and Dennis Ferbey, bass guitar.

The Singing Bird
1997 Jim Brannigan (no catalogue number)

Rambles of Spring; The Singing Bird; Nora; The Mermaid Song; A Bunch of Red Roses; Carrickfergus; The Curtains of Night; The Cobbler; Isle Au Haut; Lowlands Away; Nova Scotia Farewell; Peter Kagan and the Wind 58:38